Tobacco-handling device.



E. SLACK. TOBACCO HANDLING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1a, 1916.

Patented Oct. 23, 1917.

Z SHEETSSHEET I E. SLACK. TOBACCO HANDLING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I8. 1916.

Patented Oct. 23, 1917.

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To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ELLswoRTH SLACK, a citizen ofv the United States, residing at Miamisburg, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tobacco- Handling Devices; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention aims to provide an extremely simple yet highly eflicient and durable device for handling hands of tobacco and packing them into boxes.

With the foregoing general object in view the invention resides in certain novel features of construction and in unique combinations of parts to be hereinafter fully described and claimed, the descriptive matter being supplemented by the accompanying drawings which constitute a part of this application and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device filled with tobacco;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section showing the positions of parts when the contents of the device have been discharged;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view, and,

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section on the plane of the line 55 of Fig. 1.

The numerals 1 throughout the several views designate a pair of parallel bars of wood or the like connected at their centers by a transverse bar 2 which may or may not be provided with a metallic covering 3. The two ends of the bars 1 are also connected by means of arched handles 1 and secured to the under sides of said bars are transversely extending strips of metal 5 WhlChare preferably of inverted L-shape with their vertical flanges spaced equi-distantly and forming therebetween a number of compartments in which the hands of tobacco are to be laid.

An ejector 6 is provided for discharging the tobacco from the aforesaid compart-' ments, said ejector consisting of a pair of side bars 7 and parallel ejecting slats 8 extending between and secured at their ends to said bars, one slat being provided for each compartment as shown. Arched frames 9 are secured at their ends to the side bars 7 near the ends of the latter and the crown bars 10 of said frames are connected by a Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Om 2 3, 1917, Application filed September 18, 1916. Serial No. 120,849. I

longitudinalbar Coiled springs 12 are secured at one end to the bars 10 and at their other ends to the bars 1, said springs normally, exerting their tension to project the ejector, this being normally prevented, however, by a spring applied catch 13 pivoted within a recess 14: formed in the bar 2, said catch passing through a slot 15 in the covering 30f this bar and being held within the aforesaid recess by said covering. In use the ejector is retracted and held in this position by means of the catch 13. The compartments formed between the numerous strips .5 are now filled with the hands of tobacco while the device is in an inverted position, after which said device is righted and placed in the box'to be packed. This having been done the catch 13 is released with the result that the hands of tobacco are discharged in an even layer. By repeating this operation the box may be packed with any number of layers and the packing will be much more uniform than the packing done by the present day methods. Tobacco thus handled can be tied in hands or it may be united and placed in boxes. Upon righting of the device, the spongy nature of the tobacco retains the same in the several compartments, until catch 13 is released.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that although I have provided an extremely simple and inexpensive device, the same will be highly eflicient and durable. For these reasons the construction shown and described constitutes the preferred form of the device. It is to be understood, however, that within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous changes may be made without sacrificing the principal advantages.

I claim:

l. A tobacco handling device comprising a member having a plurality of parallel flanges forming compartments therebetween in'which the tobacco is to be placed byhand, an ejector including a plurality of parallel slats disposed between said flanges, and means for projecting said ejector to discharge the tobacco when required.

2. A tobacco handling device comprising a member having a plurality of parallel flanges forming therebetween compartments in which tobacco is to be placed by hand, an ejector including a pair of side bars extending along the ends of the flanges and a plurality of parallel slats extending between said side bars and secured thereto, said slats being received between said flanges, a pair.

of arched frames secured at their ends to said side bars and passing around the aforesaid member, springs secured at one end to said member and at their other ends to said arched frames for projecting the ejector, and releasable means for holding said ejector reti-acted against the tension of the springs.

3. A tobacco handling device comprising a pair of parallel bars, a transverse bar extending between the intermediate portions thereof, a plurality of parallel vertically dis posed flanges depending from the lower sides of said bars and forming therebetween compartments in which the tobacco is to be placed by hand, an ejector consisting of a pair of parallel side bars extending along the edge of said flanges and parallel slats secured to said side bars and received be- Uopies of this patent may be obtained for tween the aforesaid flanges, arched frames secured at their ends to said side bars and passing above the first named bars springs connecting the last named bars and said arched frames for normally projecting the ejector, an additional bar extending between the centers of said arched frames above the aforesaid transverse bar, and a catch carried by said transverse bar and engaging said ad ditional bar to normally prevent said springs from performing their functions.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELLSVVORTH SLACK.

Witnesses ADA MULLIN, MAHLON GEBHART.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

